FAQs Big Picture - apps4work/co.a4w GitHub Wiki

Apps For Work make it as easy for you to solve your problems on work computers as it is to solve problems on your phone.

  1. What does A4W stand for? Answer: A4W = Apps For Work.

  2. What does STP stand for? Answer: STP = Smart Tech Pack. This is a term we used in the development of this project. We changed it. If that interests you, See why here, but the short answer is that people get "I have an App for that".

  3. What is an A4W? Answer: A4W is a machine-readable (and machine-processable) file that contains access to all information required for any component of a garment – all the way from design to retail, and is executable on a Web Application Server.

  4. Is the A4W new and revolutionary software? Answer: No, it utilizes the existing tools of today and, from the Point-Of-View of the garment industry, is simply an evolution to the existing tech pack. It is straightforward application of well-known, and somewhat commonplace, computer technology. It applies smart software to the manufacturing of products and is creating an open market for such software.

  5. Is an A4W the same as an App for my phone? Answer: It is not identical but it is very very similar to a App for an Android phone, but it runs on a server like the computers you use at work.

  6. Can an A4W run on a phone? Answer: yes, but you probably wouldn't want to. More likely you would "see" the A4W as an icon on your phone's browser, while the real meat was running on a server. (or "in the cloud" as we say nowadays, or "on the mainframe" as we said when I was young. Welcome to an industry powered by rebuzzwording.). You may not realize that your phone is far more powerful than what we called "the mainframe" or it runs substantially the same software as "a server" or "the cloud".

  7. Is the A4W similar to a repository or gateway where someone’s software input can be translated and utilized by another software company’s solution? Answer: An A4W is a repository in that it can hold the information, but it is also a gateway in that it knows how to retrieve any information it needs. That's why it is executable. Ideally, the data can be utilized, without translation, by another SW company’s solutions, but if translation is needed, the programming inside the A4W knows where to find and invoke a translator for such.

  8. What do we have to do to make our SW tools integrate and communicate with the A4W? Answer: This is done utilizing Java programming, the A4W structure and the Part Interface, and A4W Managers

  9. What types of organizations can use, consume and integrate to an A4W? Answer: Organizations that can add value to any part of the ideation, product design, technical development, manufacturing, marketing and selling of apparel will see a financial benefit. See Early Adopters.

  10. Who would want to join the PAAT Partner Network? Answer: Any company that wants to generate additional revenue. For example, CAD/CAM companies, 3D virtualization & related content solution providers, fit & scanning technology enterprises, PLM, SCM, ERP, manufacturing orgs, mills, dye companies, etc. Also, independent technologists & app developers that can help drive new development and shopping efficiencies in this global market.

  11. Does it cost anything to join PAAT and the A4W community? Answer: No, access is open and free to all who wish and can integrate and contribute to the A4W community.

  12. How does one join PAAT and the A4W community? Answer: An organization or programmer can freely download the project (the interfaces, and support software) from GitHub, and can contribute to the project on GitHub if they wish, and can use the interfaces and support software to create A4W compliant “smart software” - without any formality or cost (one can always find out more at http://www.paatinternational.com.)) Any Smart Software developers that wish to participate in the PAAT compensation program (i.e. get paid per unit produced) need to register at http://www.paatinternational.com (free) so that PAAT knows where to allocate the appropriate funds. A company must also designate their associated price and T&Cs (so that PAAT knows how much to charge) and the partner must also register each A4W and their associated secret (key) for that A4W. This way PAAT will know which A4W’s accrue payments for a software/partner provider (so that PAAT will permit manufacturing only upon payment).